Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Republic of Poland/ Polska Rzecpospolita
(Female suffrage 1918) After being partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria
the Kingdom ceased to exist in 1795, was re-established as a state in 1918, 1945-89
Socialist one-party state where the Politburo of the Communist party was the
supreme power.
Also see Poland Heads of State and Poland Parliament
1918 State Secretary of
Social Affairs Irena Kosmowska
She was imprisoned in Moscow for independent activism 1915-18 I. She was
vice-chairperson of polish parliamentary group to the Inter-Parliamentary Union
PSL (Polish People’s Partiality). 1942-45 imprisoned in Warsaw and in Berlin,
and lived (1879–1945).
1944 Vice-Chairperson of the Provisoric Government Wanda Wasilewska
(July-December)
PKWN, Polish Committee of National's Emancipation – temporary polish communist
government. Wasilewska was a writer, communist activist, and Stalin's favourite,
and lived (1905-64).
1945-49 Secretary of
State of Education Halina Kuczkowska
She was member of Polish Socialist Party and then
Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1901-1975)
1946–49 Under-Secretary of State of Labour and
Social Welfare Eugenia Pragierowa
She was socialist activist 1910–14 in PPS-Left, since 1919 in PPS,
1945-47 deputy in Country's National Council (temporary
polish parliament) and 1947–56
deputy in the Sejm. She lived
(1888–1964).
1946-50 Under-Secretary of State of Education Eugenia Krassowska-Jodłowska
1950-51 Under-Secretary of State of High Schools and Science
1951-65 Under-Secretary of State of Higher Education
1965-73 Member of Council of State
Between 1965-69 Vice-Chairperson of the Democratic Party (Stronnictwo
Demokratyczne). She lived (1910–86).
1951-60 Under-Secretary of State of Education Zofia
Dembińska
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1905-1989)
1952-53 Under-Secretary of State of the State Agricultural Farms Maria Kamińska
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1897-1983)
1956-57
Minister of Justice Zofia Wasilkowska
She was the first female minister in the history of Poland.
She was member of Polish Socialist Party and then
Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR) in 1948-1981. She was
active in women's movement. 1958-1981 Judge in the Supreme Court. Since 1981
member of the anti-communism opposition. She lived (1910-96)
1956-57
Under-Secretary
of State of State Control Irena Strzelecka
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1920-)
1972-78
Under-Secretary
of State of Domestic Trade and Service Teresa Andrzejewska
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1928-)
1972-81
Under-Secretary
of State of Light Industry Mirosława Wąsowicz
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1922-)
1976-79
Minister of Administration, Local Economy and Environment Maria Milczarek
1979-80 Minister of Labour, Wages and Social Affairs
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1929-)
1976-80
Under-Secretary
of State of Domestic Trade and Service Jadwiga Łokkaj
1978-82 Under-Secretary of
State
of Justice Dr.iur Maria Regent-Lechowicz
Member of the Democratic Party (Stronnictwo Demokratyczne). Between 1957-61
Secretary of the Sejm, 1974-78 Judge in the Supreme Court, 1983-87 Ambassador to
Sweden, 1985 Chairperson of the 13. Congress of the Democratic Party. (1925-)
1983-87
Under-Secretary
of State of Education Janina Wiesława Król
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1933-)
1984-87
Under-Secretary
of State of Labour, Wages and Social Affairs Stanisława Borkowska
1987-89 Under-Secretary of State of
Labour and Social Policy
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1939-)
1985-85 Minister of Domestic
Trade and Service Anna Kędzierska
1986-1989 Commissioner of Women Affairs
She had the rank of Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Labour.
1985-87
Minister of Education and Upbringing Joanna Michałowska-Gumowska
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1945-)
1986-90
Under-Secretary
of State of Culture Krystyna Marszałek-Młyńczyk
Former member of the Council of State. Member of the Democratic Party (Stronnictwo
Demokratyczne). (1930-)
1987-88
Under-Secretary
of State of Education Maria Biedrzyńska
Member of the Polish United Worker's Party (PZPR). (1934-)
1988-89
Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Izabela Płaneta-Małecka
Non-partisan. (1930-)
1989-93 Under-Secretary of
State of Health and Social Affairs Krystyna Sienkiewicz
Non-partisan. (1941-)
1989-90
Minister of Culture and Art Izabella Cywińska
Non-partisan. (b. 1935-)
1989-91 Minister
without Portfolio and Government Spokesperson Małgorzata Niezabitowska
(b. 1948-)
1989-92 State Secretary
of Education Princess Anna Maria Radziwiłł
2004- Under-Secretary of Education
Princess Radziwill is non-partisan
and the youngest and fifth child of His Serene Highness Prince
Krzystof Radzwill (1898-1966) and Sophia Popiel (1900-91). Worked as a teacher
and author. Unmarried (b.
1939-)
1989-90 Government
Spokesperson for Human Rights Ewa L. Towska
1989-90
Under-Secretary of State of Labour and Social Policy and Government
Commissioner of Women Affairs
1992-93 Under-Secretary of State of Finance
Helena Góralska
Former Deputy in Sejm and member of the Union of Freedom. (1947-2003)
11989 Under-Secretary of
State of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Economy Anna Potok
1990-1993 Under-Secretary of State of Agriculture and Food Economy
Non-partisan. (1939-)
1990-93 Under-Secretary of
State of Finance Danuta Demianiuk
Non-partisan. (1949-)
1990-1993 Under-Secretary of
State of Labour and Social Policy Joanna Staręga-Piasek
1999-2001 Under-Secretary of State of Labour and Social Policy
(1939-)
1990-93 Under-Secretary of
State of State of Justice Jadwiga Skórzewska-Łosiak
Non-partisan. (1943-)
1990-92 State Secretary for
Economy and Agriculture by the President Teresa Liszcz
1991-92 Minister of Industry
and Trade Henryka Bochniarz
1991-92 Minister of Family
and Women’s Affairs Anna Popowicz
1991-ca. 93
Under-Secretary of State of Culture Agnieszka Morawińska
Non-partisan. (1944-)
1991-?
Under-Secretary of State of Labour and Social Policy Irena Wójcicka
Non-partisan. (1950-)
1991-?
Under-Secretary of State of Labour and Social Policy and Government
Commissioner of Women Affairs Aleksandra Wiktorow
Since 2000 she is President of the Institute of National Insurance. (1952-)
1992-93 President of the
Council of Ministers Dr.
Hanna Suchocka (10.7-26.10)
1992-93 1. Vice-Chairperson of the National Security Council
1997-2000 Minister of Justice and Procurator-General
Vice-President of the Council of Europe 1991-92, unsuccessful Primary Candidate
for the Post of State President of her Party in 1995 and from 2002 Ambassador to
the Vadican. (b. 1946-)
1992-96 Under-Secretary of
State
of Housing, Construction and Regional Planning
2002-05 Under-Secretary of State of Economy Irena Herbst
(b.1946-)
1993-95 Minister of Housing,
Construction and Regional Planning Barbara Bilda
1995-97 Minister of Town and Country Planning
1997 Head of the Office of Housing and Urban Development (no longer a
ministerial post).
1993 Under-Secretary of State of
State of Finance and General Inspector of Taxes Jolanta Pallas-Fabjanaka
1993-95 Government
Spokesperson Ewa Wachowichz
She was "Miss Poland 1993" (b. 1971-)
1993-95
Under-Secretary of State of Defence Danuta Waniek
1995-98 Minister in the Office of the President and leader of the Office
Deputy in Sejm 1991-2001 and Leader of the election campaign of
President Alexander Kwaśniewski in 1995 (b.1946-)
1994-97 Under-Secretary of State of Agriculture Katarzyna Duczkowska-Małysz
She is Presidential advisor and in 2003 she was candidate for the post of
Minister of Agriculture.
1995-96 Under-Secretary of
State for Industry and Trade Danuta Hübner
1996-97 Secretary of State of European Integration
1997-98 Minister
and Head of in the Chancellery of the
President
2001-03 First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary in Charge of
European Integration
2003-04 Minister without Portfolio and Chairperson of the Committee of European
Integration
2004 European
Commissioner without Portfolio attatched to the
Commissioner for
Trade
2004- European Commissioner of Regional Policy
she was Assistant
Secretary General of the United Nations 1998-2001.
1995-2000 State Secretary in
the Chancellery of the President Barbara Labuda
She was Under-Secretary of State by the President 1996-98. (b. 1946-)
1995-99 Under-Secretary of
State
of Finance Halina Wasilewska-Trenkner
1999-2001 State Secretary of Finance
2001 Minister of Finance
2001-04 State Secretary of Finance
1995-97 State Secretary by
the Prime Minister and Commissioner of Equal Status of Men and Women
2001-03 State Secretary of Labour and Social Policy
2003-2004 State Secretary of Economy, Labour and Social Policy Jolanta Banach
Vice-Chairperson 1992-2001, 2002-03 Chairperson of Demokratyczna Unia
Kobiet (Democratic Women's Union)
1995-1997 Under-Secretary of
State in the Office of the Council of Ministers and
Government Press Spokesperson.
2001-03 Secretary of State in the Ministry of Culture and
National Heritage
2003-04 Chief of the Political Cabinet of Prime Minister and Secretary of State in
the Chancellery of Prime Minister Aleksandra Jakubowska
Deputy Secretary General of SLD (the Democratic Left Alliance, Sojusz Lewicy
Demokratycznej) 1999-2001 and its Vice-Chairperson
2003-2004.
1995-96 State Secretary in charge of Social and
Cultural Affairs in the Chancellery of the President
1996-98 Under-Secretary of State by the President Barbara Labuda
1998-2005 State Secretary in charge of Social and Cultural Affairs in the
Chancellery of the President Barbara Labuda
MP from 1989, Ambassador to Luxembourg from 2005. (b. 1946-)
1997-99 Minister of Culture
and Art Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa
1997-99 Minister without
Portfolio for Social Reforms Teresa Kamińska
2000-02 Secretary of State of the Premier Minister and Government Spokesperson
(b. 1956-)
1997-2001 State Secretary of
the Treasury Alicja Józefa Kornasiewicz
1997-2001 Under-Secretary of
State
of the Treasury Aldona Kamela-Sowińska
2001 Minister of the State Treasury
In 2003 she became Chairperson of the newly founded party, Inicjatywa dla
Polski (Initiative for Poland).
1997 Under-Secretary of State of
Home Affairs Katarzyna Maria Piekarska
Vice-Chairperson of Democratic Left Alliance (Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej)
from 2004.
1997-99 Under-Secretary of State of Environmental Protection, National Resources and
Forestry and Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection Teresa Warchalowska
1997-99 Under-Secretary of
State
of Health and Social Welfare Janina Manko
1997-99 Under-Secretary of
State
of Health and Social Welfare Irena Glowaczewska
1997-2001 Under-Secretary of
State
of Health and Social Welfare Anna Knysok
Director General of the Ministry was Malgorzata Bartoszewska.
1998-2001 State Secretary of
Economy Anna Skowrońska-Łuczyńska
1998-2001 State Secretary of
National Education Irena Dzierzgowska
2000 Acting Minister of National Education
1998-2001 State Secretary of
Labour and Social Policy Ewa Lewicka-Banaszak
1998-2000 Under-Secretary of
State
in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Chief of European Affairs Maria Karasinska-Fendler
1998-2001 Under-Secretary of
State
of Labour and Social Policy Irena Boruta
1998-2001 Under-Secretary of
State
of Labour and Social Policy Grażyna Gęsicka
2007 State Secretary of Regional Development and Acting Minister
2007 Minister of Regional Development
1998-2001 Under-Secretary of
State
of Labour and Social Policy Elżbieta Sobótka
1998-2001 Under-Secretary of
State
of Agriculture and Food Economy Jadwiga Berak
1998-2001 Minister of Health
and Social Security Franciszka Cegielska
Chairperson of the rightwing party “Ruch Stu”, which means Hundred’s Movement
1990-2001. She was President of the Sejmik of the Voivodship of Pomerania
1990-99 and Mayor of Gdynia 1999-2001. Born in France, and lived (1945-2001)
1999 Minister without
Portfolio in charge of Family Affairs Maria Smereczyńska
1999-2001 State Secretary in the Chancellery of the Premier Minister for Family
Affairs
1999-2001 Under-Secretary of
State
of the Committee of Scientific Research Małgorzata Kozłowska
1999-2001 Under-Secretary of State of the Treasury Jana Buczkowska
1999-2001 Under-Secretary of
State
of the Treasury Barbara Litak-Zarębska
1999-2000 Under-Secretary of
State
of Finance Dorotea Safjan
2000-01 State Secretary of
Culture Anna Popwicz
2000-01 Under-Secretary of
State
of Foreign Affairs Barbara Tuge-Erecińska
2005-07 State Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador to Sweden and Denmark 1991-2005.
2000-01 Under-Secretary of
State
of the Treasury Jana Buczkowski
2000-01 Under-Secretary of
State
of European Integration Katazyna Skórzyńska
2000 Under-Secretary of State in
the Presidency Jolanta Szymanek-Derescz
2000-06 Chief of the Chancellery of the President
2000-02 State Secretary of
the Premier Minister Anna Grzymislawska
2000-01 State Secretary of
Health Elżbieta Hibner
2000-05 Under-Secretary of State and Head of
the Staff in the Chancellery of the President Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz
MP since 2005.
2001 Under-Secretary of State of
Foreign Affairs Grazyna Bernatowiz
2001 2001 Under-Secretary of State of Defence Jadwiga Zakrzewska
MP since 2001.
2001 Under-Secretary of State of
Economy Teresa Malecka
2001-02 Minister of Justice
and General-General Barbara Piwnik
2001-2004 Minister of Education Krystyna
Łybacka
2001-05
and 2007- Under-Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs Grazyna Bernatowicz
Around 2001 of Finance State
Secretary Teresa Kąkiel
2001-03 Under-Secretary of
State
of Finance Irena Ozóg
2001-03 Under-Secretary of
State
of the Treasury Barbara Misterska
2001-03 Under-Secretary of State of
Economy Ewa Freyberg
2003-04 Under-Secretary of State of Education
2001-03
Under-Secretary of State of Economy Małgorzata Okońska-Zaremba
2003-04 Under-Secretary of State of Economy, Labour and
Social Policies
In 2003 the Ministries of Economy and of Labour and Social Policies merged.
2001-05
Under-Secretary of State of Environment Ewa Symonides
2001- Under-Secretary of State of Health and Social Welfare Wacława Wojtala
Ca. 2001-05
Under-Secretary of State of Science and Information Ewa Okoń-Horodyńska
2002-04 State Secretary by the Prime Minister and Commissioner of Equal
Status of Men and Women
2004-05 Vice-President of the Council of Miinsters
2004 Minister without Portfolio
2004-05 Minister of Social Policy
Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka
Vice-Chairperson of the Unia Pracy (Labour Union) 1998-2004
and 2004-05 Party Chairperson, but left the party to Co-Found the Union of the
Left Unia Lewicy) She is the
only woman in the Council of Ministers. (1950-)
2002-03 State Secretary of
the Treasury Malgorzata Ostrowska
2005 State Secretary of the Economy and Labour
Member of Sejm since 1993. (1958-)
2002-05 State Secretary of
Culture Aleksandra Jakubowska
2002-03 Under-Secretary of
State
of Labour and Social Policy Krystyna
Tokarska-Biernacik
2003 Under-Secretary of State of Economy, Labour and Social Policy
She was dismissed after short time in office.
2002-05
Under-Secretary of State of Education and Sport Hanna Kuzińska
2003- Under-Secretary of State of Agriculture Zofia Krzyżanowska
2003-05 Under-Secretary of State of Agriculture Daria Oleszczuk
2003-05
Under-Secretary of State of Agriculture Zofia Krzyżanowska
2003-04
Under-Secretary of State of Finance Elżbieta Mucha
2003
Under-Secretary of State in the Office of the European Integration Committee
Krystyna Gurbiel
2003-05 Under-Secretary of State of Economy, Labor and Social Policy
2005 Under-Secretary of State of Regional Development
Dismissed after a short time in office.
(1959-).
2004 and 2007- Under-Secretary of State of Finance Elżbieta Suchocka-Roguska
2004-05 State Secretary of Finance
Director of the Department of Budget in the Ministry of Finance 1989-2004. As
Under-Secretary of State she was responsible for budget.
2004-05 State Secretary of Culture Agnieszka Odorowicz
2004-05 Under-Secretary of State by the Office of the Prime
Minister and the Governmental Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Men and Women
Magdalena Środa (1957-)
2004-05
Under-Secretary of State of Social Policy Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak
2008- Under-Secretary of State of Labour and Social Policy
2005-06 Undersecretary of State of European Integration and National Aid Co-ordinator Aleksandra Wasilewska-Tietz
2005-07 State Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Anna Fotyga
2006-07 Minister of Foreign Affairs
2007- Head of the President's Office
Util 2004 Vice-president of Gdańsk and MEP 2004-05.
A
close collaborator of the ultra-rightwing President Lech Kaczyński. (b. 1957-).
2005 Minister of Finance
Teresa Lubińska
Grażyna Gęsicka
became Minister of Regional Development
in the new ultra-rightwing government. (see 1998). (b. 1952-).
2005-07 State Secretary of Finance Elżbieta Suchocka-Roguska
2005-06
State Secretary of Agriculture Stanisława Anna Okularczyk
2005-07 Under-Secretary of State of Labour and Social Policy Joanna
Kluzik-Rostkowska
2007 Under-Secretary of State of Regional Development
2007 Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
2005-07 Under-secretary of State of Environment Agnieszka Bolesta
2005-07 Under-secretary of State of Environment Teresa Warchałowska
2005-07 Under-Secretary of
State of Health Anna Gręziak
2005-06 Under-Secretary of State of Transport and Building Anna Streżyńska
2006 Vice-President of the
Council of Ministers inister of Finance Zyta Gilowska
2006-07Vice-President of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Economic
Affairs and Minister of Finance
2007 State Secretary of Finance and Acting Minister
2007Vice-President of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Economic
Affairs and Minister of Finance
When she was cleared of charges of lying about her activities during the
Communist regime she was reinstated in her office early in 2007. In 2007 she was
reappointed again after a few days.
2006-07 Under-Secretary of State of Transport and Building Barbara Kondrat
2006 Under-Secretary of
State of European Integration Ewa Ośniecka-Tamecka
2006-07
State Secretary of European Integration
2006 and 2006-07 Minister of Labour and Social Policy Anna Kalata
After her first appoinment she resigned after four months in office and was reappointed a few months later.
2006 Under-Secretary of
State of Transport Barbara Kondrat
2006-07
State Secretary of Justice Beata Kempa
2006-07 Under-Secretary of State of Labour and Social Policy Elżbieta Rafalska
2006-07 Secretary of State of Finance
Elzbieta Wilczynska
2006-07 Under-Secretary of State
of Construction Elzbieta Janiszewska-Kuropatwa
2006-07 Under-Secretary of State of Education Sylwia Sysko-Romańczuk
2007-08 Undersecretary of State of Sport and Tourism Grażyna Leja
2007- Undersecretary of State of Defence Maria Wągrowska
2008- Secretary of State of Science and Superior Education Maria Elżbieta Orłowska
2008- Under-Secretary of State in the Office of the European Integration Sidonia Elżbieta Jędrzejewska
2008- Under-Secretary of State of Science and Superior Education Grażyna Prawelska–Skrzypek
Last update 16.03.08